Animal brush

ABSTRACT

An article is taught for removing shedded hair from animals by stroking action, comprising a flexible abrasive sheet structure and holder means, such as a strap, connected to the abrasive sheet structure for fastening it to the palm side of one&#39;&#39;s hand for stroking action. The abrasive sheet structure includes a flexible backing and a layer of randomly-distributed coarse abrasive grit particles of a size larger than grit 70, preferably larger than grit 40, bonded to the exposed face. Open coated aluminum oxide grit layers are preferred. A mechanical interlock structure comprising the abrasive sheet, a special back up pad, and an intermediate strap holder member, permits adhesive locking of the abrasive sheet to the strap even though the strap may be of a material to which it is notoriously difficult to adhere anything by the usual adhesive or bonding techniques.

United States Patent Jackson Aug. 14, 1973 ANIMAL BRUSH [76] Inventor: M. Ward Jackson, 1789 E. Maryland [57] ABSTRACT Avenue Paul 551 19 An article is taught for removing shedded hair from an- [22] Filed: July 14, 1971 imals by stroking action, comprising a flexible abrasive sheet structure and holder means, such as a strap, con- [21] Appl' 162574 nected to the abrasive sheet structure for fastening it to the palm side of ones hand for stroking action. The [52] US. Cl. 119/83 abrasive sheet structure includes a flexible backing and [51] Int. Cl A01k 13/00 a layer of randomly-distributed coarse abrasive grit [58] Field of Search 1 19/83; 51/391, 407 particles of a size larger than grit 70, preferably larger than grit 40, bonded to the exposed face. Open coated [56] References Cited aluminum oxide, grit layers are preferred. A mechanical UMTED STATES PATENTS interlock structure comprising the abrasive sheet, a 2 650 158 8/1953 Eastman 51/407 x special back up pad, and an intermediate strap holder 213461240 6/1936 Bayley 51/407 member, permits adhesive locking of the abrasive sheet 334,041 3/1967 Dyer et 51/407 to the strap even though the strap may be of a material 277,173 5/1883 Thompson 119/83 t whi h it is n t riously difficult to adhere anything by Primary ExaminerHugh R. Chamblee Attorney-Robert C. Baker the usual adhesive or bonding techniques.

14 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Pmmnuwm 3,752,125

FIG. 3 INVENTOR.

M. WARD JACKSON A TTORNEY ANIMAL BRUSH This invention relates to a new article for brushing or stroking animals to remove shedded hair from the fur coat of the animal. The article may generically be called an animal brush; however, it does not contain the usual bristles associated with brushes. The invention also relates to a new method for removing shedded hair from animals.

The removal of loose or shedded hair from dogs, cats and other animals has heretofore been a problem. It can be accomplished by using an ordinary brush equipped with bristles; but the bristles quickly become clogged with the loose hair and require painstaking effort to clean. Several bristle cleaning interruptions may be required in any one grooming session, Also, many animals dislike being groomed repeatedly with brushes (especially tined brushes) or combs, since most people tend to dig too hard through the animals coat.

The new article of this invention is not only effective for removal of loose shedded hair from an animals coat, but also is relatively free of clogging and very easily and quickly stripped of any build up of hair on it at intervals during the grooming session. Further, animals enjoy the method of treatment accomplished with the new article. Stroking an animals coat with this new article effects gentle removal of shedded hair as the animal is being petted.

Of course this new article is not necessarily meant to be used as a total replacement for brushing, combing and other grooming steps; but usage of this new article makes it unnecessary to engage in excessive brushing and combing to the point of irritation.

The new article comprises a flexible abrasive sheet structure and holder means connected to the abrasive sheet structure for fastening the structure to the palm side of ones hand for the stroking or brushing action. The abrasive sheetstructure itselfcomprises a flexible backing and a layer of randomly distributed coarse abrasive grit particles of a size larger than grit 70 (usually larger than grit 40) bonded by a bond coating to the exposed face. Heretofore extremely fine abrasive grit, on the order to 400 grain, has been suggested as a depilatory. However, insofar as is known, no one has heretofore suggested abrasive for 'the removal of shedded hair of animals without in fact removing substantial amounts of non-shedded live hairs. And it is believed especially surprising to find that coarse abrasive grit, especially in an open coat or as a discontinuous layer, is effective for this purpose and not irritating to the animals undergoing treatment.

Additionally, the invention teachesa new structural arrangement between an abrasive sheet structure and a strap member as the holder means for fastening or holding the abrasive sheet structure on the palm side of ones hand during grooming use of the article. A major benefit of this new structural arrangement is that it permits firm anchorage or joining between a strap and abrasive sheet even though the strap may be of a material (such as, for example, polyethylene) to which it is notoriously difficult to adhere anything by the usual adhesive or bonding techniques.

Other advantages and benefits of the invention will become evident as this description proceeds. The invention will be described by reference to a drawing made a part hereof wherein:

FIG. I is a schematic face plan view of a preferred article according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the article of FIG. 1 illustrating a means for removably fastening strap ends together;

FIG. 3 is a broken enlargement of a cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic fragmentary perspective view of an alternate means for fastening strap ends together.

Referring to the drawing, the preferred article comprises a flexible abrasive sheet structure 10 and strap means Ill connected to the structure.

The abrasive'sheet structure itself essentially comprises a flexible backing l2 and a layer of randomly distributed coarse abrasive grit particles 13 of a size larger than grit bonded by a bond coating 14 to the outer exposed face of the backing. The exposed face is that face which is exposed as the article is placed on ones hand for the stroking action.

As illustrated in the left portion of the abrasive sheet structure of FIG. 1, a peripheral boarder free of grit may be added to the abrasive sheet structure. This sometimes is desirable, especially when the flexible backing 12 is very thin and a pad structure 15 behind it is of very thin character or omitted. However, as illustrated in the right portion of the abrasive sheet of FIG. 1, grit may and normally will extend in a random pattern to the very edge of the face side of the structure carrying the abrasive grit.

The coarse grit particles 13 are most ideally open coated and thus the layer of grit is a discontinuous layer. Grit particles occupy between approximately 10 and percent of the exposed face surface area of the abrasive sheet. In abrasive parlance, this is what is known as an open coat. For this new animal treatment article, the preferred open coat coverage is such that the grit occupies between about 10 (or possibly 20 percent) and 70 percent of the face surface area of the abrasive sheet. All of these percentages, however, are approximations, since it is difficult to establish with precision the exact extent of exposed surface area free of the grit. A highly open coat is, however, most preferred. Ordinarily, visual inspection can be relied upon for making estimates of coverage; but any known measuring technique can be used to assist in arriving at the estimates. As a general rule, effort should be made to keep the space between individual grit particles of the coating at least about one-thirty second of an inch, but this is extremely tedious to accomplish and a random open coat is the most practical to make from a manufacturing standpoint.

Further, the exact density or' coverage of grit particles preferably employed on the face of the sheet may vary considerably depending upon the particular fur coat of the animal to be treated. A greater density will generally be acceptable where the animal has very short and fine hair or fur. Conversely, the coat of abrasive should preferably be less dense and more open for animals which have thick coats oflong coarse hair. Further, the size of the coarse grit particles may sometimes more closely approach the grit size of grade 50 or even 70 where the fur coat is that of extremely short and fine hair. However, grit sizes of at least about grade 40 or 36 up to about grade 12, or even as large as about 6, (with grade 16 being especially preferred) give best results in most instances, especially for dogs. Grit grading is a highly developed art understood to be based on mesh sizes of U.S. Standard. Thus grit 16 corresponds substantially to what would be characterized as approximately mesh l6.

The coarser grits, especially in open coats as discussed, are surprisingly effective to pick or pull out shedded hair of the animal without removing serious amounts or substantial amounts of live non-shedded hairs. Of course, a small or incidental removal of some live hair is normally not objectionable. For the most part, however, the live or non-shedded hairs tend to move or be shifted into positions between projecting rough edges of the coarse grit on the face of the article as the animal is stroked. Thus, removal of live hairs is minimal or not noticeably accomplished during stroking action. This is believed to be completely contrary to what would be expected, especially in light of past knowledge on the use of abrasives as a depilatory.

Aluminum oxide or alumina is the preferred abrasive grit material for the new articles. lts surface planes or crystal arrangement and edges in grit sizes as indicated are such that it provides the proper degree of sharpness at edges of the grit to leave live hairs substantially unharmed but pull out and even hold shedded hair during stroking action. It, as well as any other known abrasive grit material, may be used alone or in admixture or combination. A significant feature is that the grits sometimes act almost as magnets in pulley out and holding shedded hair during the stroking action. Grits of magnesium aluminate or various spinels of alumina are useful. Still other useful types of grit, though nominally less preferred (or possibly employed with a diluted application of a conventional abrasive size coating to slightly. reduce relative sharpness of crystal edges where they are substantially sharper than those characteristic of alumina) are silicon carbide, corundum, diamond, garnet, quartz, or almost any grit particle of a hardness greater than about 3, preferably greater than 6, on the Mohs scale. On the Knoop scale, the hardness value should be greater than 140 and preferably about 600. Abrasive grits satisfy this criteria; indeed, in most cases, known abrasive grits satisfy the preferred hardness values.

The grit is bonded to a backing by a bond coating 14 of resinous adhesive. Known thermosetting resin bond coats (e.g., phenolic resins) are useful, although they are sometimes more stiff than is most preferred. However, the bond coating part of the total sheet structure is relatively so thin that even if it is of a material recognized as stiff when used in molding larger articles, it exhibits sufficient flexibility in the thin coating state to be useful in practicing the invention. In general, it is preferable to employ bond resin coatings which in the final article are relatively water insoluble so as to permit washing and cleaning of the composite article without dissolving away structural parts. Thus animal glue is not a preferred bond resin coating. Thermoplastic resin bond coatings (e.g., polystyrene) are quite useful and are water insoluble in the practical sense here discussed.

In known coated abrasive practice, it is customary to improve or enhance the bond of the grit to the backing cles hereof and is unnecessary. It may, however, be employed without complete loss of the benefits taught herein. But a size coating, unless it is very sparce or thin in character, tends to smooth out some of the sharp edges of the grit; and while the ordinary abrading usage of a coated abrasive soon wears off the outermost film of size coating, the usage for the article hereof in petting animals does not readily wear off a size coating. Thus while a size coating is not always objectionable, the more preferred articles hereof are those wherein the grit is bonded by a bond coat to a backing but the size coat (of diluted bond resin) as employed in conventional abrasive practice is entirely eliminated or substantially reduced. To be recognized, however, is that optional coatings, for anti-static or other purposes, may be employed if desired; but such coatings are of a material normally quite distinct from the bond resin or adhesive employed to fix abrasive grit to a backing.

A wide variety of sheet backings are useful, such as various resin or plastic films, sheet materials, woven or non-woven fabrics, and the like. Cheese-cloth backings, or backings of non-woven random threads or filaments, are suitable, especially as part'of a total structure incorporating a further back-up pad or sheet member. Preferred backings 12 are formed of threads or filaments and thus can be considered fabric in character. An especially preferred backing is muslin or a woven fabric of similar character. In general, sheet backings of porous character (such as woven or non-woven fabrics and various fibrous or paper sheet backings) are preferably impregnated with penetrating material such as the bond adhesive material for the grit; and impregnation preferably precedes the step of applying the bond coating and the dropping of the grit on the applied bond layer. Also backings or bond coatings for the open coated abrasive are preferably dyed .or pigmented to attractive colors as desired.

An especially useful and preferred structural arrangementbetween the abrasive sheet article and a strap member is that'wherein a unitary strap member, as illustrated at 11 in the drawing, is mechanically locked to the abrasive sheet.

The strap member 11 may consist of cloth or any suitable film or sheet material. Especially useful are straps of polyethylene, polystyrene, or other economical plastic. The strap is provided with a body part or portion intermediate the ends thereof. This body part (specifically in the case of plastic straps to which it is difficult to gain adhesive bonding) is equipped with edges or edge surfaces which are not parallel to the length of the strap member. in the drawing, the surface edges not parallel to the length of the strap are formed by die cutting small discs or rings out of the body of the strap so as to form round holes 16; and it is the portion of the strap 1 l equipped with holes 16 that is called the body part of the strap 11. Non-parallel edges of strap material might also be formed by cutting the lateral edges of the strap (in the central or medial body part) with pinking shears, or by a die, to form irregular edges along the lateral sides of the strap. Slots or other shapes for holes might be used to form the surface edges not parallel or transverse to the length of the strap.

The structure for mechanical locking of the abrasive sheet and strap together involves placing the backing 12 of the abrasive sheet against one side of the body part of the strap M and pad 15 against the other side of the body part of strap 11. Both the backing 12 and pad in this structure have mating surface areas 16 free of contact with the area of the physical material or mass of the body part of the strap. In general, this means that the backing 12 and pad 15 will be larger in surface area than the mass area of the physical material constituting the body part of the strap. But the area encompassed as a perimeter by the body part of the strap may indeed be quite large. For example, the body part of the strap, in terms of peripheral limits, may extend about edge portions of the abrasive sheet backing l2 and pad 15 and even peripherally outwardly therefrom, with the central portion of the strap body part equipped with one large hole or a plurality of smaller ones.

Mating surfaces of backing l2 and pad 15 are those surface areas of the backing l2 and pad 15 which are free of contact with physical material of the body part of strap 11; and these mating surface areas are fixed or united to each other by means such as an adhesive 17. In this way the strap 11, with its edges non-parallel to its length, is mechanically locked between the backing l2 and pad 15, even though the strap 11 itself may be formed of a material (such as polyethylene) to which adhesive joining or anchorage is notoriously difficult. The holes provide edges of strap material which are not parallel to its length; and thus, the strap cannot be pulled out from one side or the other of the composite lamination. Of course, special priming adhesives and other treatments for the surface of materials to which adhesive anchorage is desired (but is difficult to achieve) may be employed, with selection of the materials or treatment dependent on the specific surface characteristics of various parts of the structure to be joined together. Such known techniques may be used with or without the mechanical interlocking discussed. But the mechanical interlocking principle here explained is completely satisfactory and has the advantage of being economicaland reliable.

An especially preferred flexible pad structurelS is that of indoor-outdoor carpeting material. Such material normally comprises a film (e.g., a rubbery film, layer, or sheet, synthetic or natural) or fibrous backing, with fabric material on one or both sides. However, flexible pad 15 may simply consist of a flexible plastic or resinous film or a flexible fibrous, paper or fabric sheet, woven or non-woven. A woven flannel material is useful. A non-woven scrim pad may be used. The advantage of a substantial pad sheet 15 (especially one of carpet-like character) as part of the composite structure is that of improving the hand or feel characteristics for the user. Also, a pad, especially one of the carpetlike character, contributes to the comfort of the treatment for the animal, inasmuch as it serves somewhat analogously to a shock-absorber as one engages in the stroking or petting movements.

The ends of strap 11, if not permanently joined, as is optional, are equipped with releasable fastening elements which mate in any suitable way to provide a loop within which one may place fingers or an entire hand. In FIG. 2, the strap fastening means is formed by a transverse slot 18 (or a plurality of such slots for adjustability) in one end of the strap, and a crescent cut 19 or tab (or a plurality of the same for adjustability) in the other end. The crescent cuts are such that, as the end of the strap containing them is slipped through the slots in the other end portion of the strap, the tab projection 19 of the crescents trails through the transverse slots. The crescent tab 19 is then pressed out from the plane of the strap to overlap and lock upon the edge of a transverse cut 18 as the ends of the strap are pulled slightly in a reverse direction.

In FIG. 4, a buckle fastener is illustrated for the ends of the strap. Suitably the buckle may be formed with three transverse bars 10, 21, and 22 between the lateral edge bars 23 and 24 of the buckle, and with a projecting lock post or pin or knob 25 medially located on the central transverse bar 21. Each end of the strap is then equipped with a hole 26 (or longitudinally aligned series of holes 26 for adjustability) which receives the lock knob 25. Both strap ends are inserted under the side transverse bars 20 and 22, and over the central transverse bar 21, with the lock knob 25 inserted in a hole in each end of the strap for retention of the strap ends in the buckle.

Still other holder means, wholly apart from strap means, may be a part of or connected to the abrasive sheet structure for use in fastening or keeping the abrasive sheet on the palm side of ones hand for the stroking action. The means may completely enclose a person's hand, as in the case of a glove or mitten structure.

A preferred example of an article according to the invention is one formed of a polyethylene strap (overall about 1 inch by 12 inches) with disc cut-outs in the medial or central body portion of thestrap. Muslin cloth was impregnated with a water-diluted adhesive (about 3 volumes water to one of the adhesive) of the type commercially known as Elmers Glue, which as commercially available is believed to largely consist of a water dispersed copolymer of monomers such as vinyl acetate and vinylindene acetate. The impregnation, after drying, was just sufficient to close most of the pores through the muslin. Thereafter a thin coating of the aforesaid adhesive, without added water, was applied to one side of the muslin sheet and to one side of a flannel-like pad of indoor-outdoor carpeting. These adhesively coated sides were pressed together and dried or set in mated relation over the body part of the strap. Each was previously cut to the same size (about 3% by 3% inches with rounded comers). (Approximate range for size lies between about 3 X 3 inches up to about 4 X 8 inches, preferably with rounded corners or an approximation toward the oval shape.) The muslin side was coated with an abrasive bond coating of the aforesaid adhesive. Abrasive grain (alumina of grit 16) was sprinkled on at a density of approximately 20 or 30 percent coverage. After the adhesive of the structure had dried or set, the entire lamination was sufficiently flexible as a unit to conform or be curved by pressing into conformity with an animals body as stroking was accomplished.

Stroking the animal was accomplished by hand in a petting action, with the abrasive grit of the sheet structure being drawn over the animal s coat in the direction of the lay of the hair of the coat. After each stroking action, the hand carrying the abrasive sheet in the palm thereof was removed from the animal's coat and moved to a starting position before contacting the animal's coat for the next petting motion. The article was not randomly swirled in contact with the animals coat, although such may be done if desired. Stroking effected the removal of shedded hair from the animal without the abrasive coating effecting any noticeable or significant removal of live or non-shedded hair. Rapid stroking caused the removed hair to swirl in the air, leaving the abrasive side of the structure substantially free of hair build-up for each subsequent stroking or petting movement. But, during a slow stroking test, it was found that removed shedded hair tended to largely remain on the abrasive side of the structure as a mat layer which could easily be lifted or pealed off at periodic intervals (i.e., to clean the abrasive surface) without significant delay in'the grooming operation. And the animals, especially the dogs, were completely receptive to both the fast and slower grooming. Their behavior suggested that they were completely enjoying the treatment. Also, after each use, the article was washed and allowed to dry so as to be hygienically clean for subsequent use.

That which is claimed is:

I. An article for removing shedded hair from animals by stroking action, comprising a flexible abrasive sheet structure and holder means connected to said abrasive sheet structure for fastening said structure to the palm side of ones hand for said stroking action, said abrasive sheet structure comprising a flexible backing and a layer of randomly distributed coarse abrasive grit particles of a size larger than grit 70 bonded to the exposed face thereof, said layer of coarse grit particles being open coated with the grit occupying between approximately 10 percent and approximately 70 percent of the face surface area of said abrasive sheet structure.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein the coarse abrasive grit particles are of a size greater than about grit 40.

3. The article of claim 1 wherein said coarse grit particles comprises particles of approximately grit 36 in size.

4. The article of claim 1 wherein said coarse grit particles comprises particles of approximately grit 16 in size.

5. The article of claim 1 wherein the abrasive grit is bonded to the flexible backing without any size coating over the outermost surface of the grit on the backing.

6. The article of claim 1 wherein the grit particles comprise aluminum oxide.

7. The article of claim 1 wherein said holder means comprises a unitary strap member having a body part intermediate the ends thereof, said sheet structure being fixed to said body part, and means for removably fastening the ends of said strap together.

8. The article of claim 7 wherein said body part of said strap member is equipped with edges not parallel to the length of said strap member, and wherein the backing of said sheet structure is against one side of said body part and a pad sheet is against the other side of said body part, both said backing and said pad sheet having mating surface areas free of contact with physical material of said body part of said strap member and being adhesively fixed to each other in said mating surface areas, whereby the body part of said strap member is mechanically locked between said backing and pad sheet.

9. The article of claim 1 wherein the backing comprises a member formed of threads.

10. The article of claim 1 additionally comprising a pad sheet adhered to the rear surface of said flexible backing.

11. The method of removing shedded hair from an animals coat comprising repeatedly stroking the animals coat by hand in a petting action with an abrasive sheet structure fastened to the palm side of one s hand, said abrasive sheet structure comprising a flexible backing and a layer of randomly distributed coarse abrasive grit particles of a size larger than grit bonded to the exposed face thereof, said layer of coarse grit particles being open coated with the grit occupying between approximately l0 percent and approximately 70 percent of the face surface area of said abrasive sheet structure, said petting action being accomplished in the direction of lay of the hair of the animals coat with abrasive grit of the sheet structure passing over and into the animals coat with said direction of the lay of the hair thereof.

12. An article for removing shedded hair from animals by stroking action, comprising a flexible abrasive sheet structure and holder means connected to said abrasive sheet structure for fastening said structure to the palm side of ones hand for said stroking action, said abrasive sheet structure comprising a flexible backing and a layer of randomly distributed coarse abrasive grit particles of a size larger than grit 70 bonded to the exposed face thereof, said holder means comprising a unitary strap member having a body part intermediate the ends thereof, said sheet structure being fixed to said body part, and means for removably fastening the ends of said strap together.

13. The article of claim 12 wherein said body part of said strap member is equipped with edges not parallel to the length of said strap member, and wherein the backing of said sheet structure is against one side of said body part and a pad sheet is against the other side of said body part, both said backing and said pad sheet having mating surface areas free of contact with physical material of said body part of said strap member and being adhesively fixed to each other in said mating surface areas, whereby the body part of said strap member is mechanically locked between said backing and pad sheet.

14. The article of claim 12 wherein said layer of coarse grit particles are open coated with the grit occupying between approximately 10 and percent of the face surface area of said abrasive sheet structure.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 3 Dated August 4-:

Patent No.

Inventor(s) d ck on It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent arid that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 2-7, ulle should read u11in line 39, "about", should read -above--.

Column 6, line 6, "10", should read 20-.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of January 197L|..

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. RENE D. TEGIMEYER Acting Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 a u. s. GOVERNMENT rnm'rma orrlc: u" oul-:|u,

: ORM PO-1050 (10-69) 

2. The article of claim 1 wherein the coarse abrasive grit particles are of a size greater than about grit
 40. 3. The article of claim 1 wherein said coarse grit particles comprises particles of approximately grit 36 in size.
 4. The article of claim 1 wherein said coarse grit particles comprises particles of approximately grit 16 in size.
 5. The article of claim 1 wherein the abrasive grit is bonded to the flexible backing without any size coating over the outermost surface of the grit on the backing.
 6. The article of claim 1 wherein the grit particles comprise aluminum oxide.
 7. The article of claim 1 wherein said holder means comprises a unitary strap member having a body part intermediate the ends thereof, said sheet structure being fixed to said body part, and means for removably fastening the ends of said strap together.
 8. The article of claim 7 wherein said body part of said strap member is equipped with edges not parallel to the length of said strap member, and wherein the backing of said sheet structure is against one side of said body part and a pad sheet is against the other side of said body part, both said backing and said pad sheet having mating surface areas free of contact with physical material of said body part of said strap member and being adhesively fixed to each other in said mating surface areas, whereby the body part of said strap member is mechanically locked between said backing and pad sheet.
 9. The article of claim 1 wherein the backing comprises a member formed of threads.
 10. The article of claim 1 additionally comprising a pad sheet adhered to the rear surface of said flexible backing.
 11. The method of removing shedded hair from an animal''s coat comprising repeatedly stroking the animal''s coat by hand in a petting action with an abrasive sheet structure fastened to the palm side of one''s hand, said abrasive sheet structure comprising a flexible backing and a layer of randomly distributed coarse abrasive grit particles of a size larger than grit 70 bonded to the exposed face thereof, said layer of coarse grit particles being open coated with the grit occupying between approximately 10 percent and approximately 70 percent of the face surface area of said abrasive sheet structure, said petting action being accomplished in the direction of lay of the hair of the animals coat with abrasive grit of the sheet structure passing over and into the animal''s coat with said direction of the lay of the hair thereof.
 12. An article for removing shedded hair from animals by stroking action, comprising a flexible abrasive sheet structure and holder means connected to said abrasive sheet structure for fastening said structure to the palm side of one''s hand for said stroking action, said abrasive sheet structure comprising a flexible backing and a layer of randomly distributed coarse abrasive grit particles of a size larger than grit 70 bonded to the exposed face thereof, said holder means comprising a unitary strap member having a body part intermediate the ends thereof, said sheet structure being fixed to said body part, and means for removably fastening the ends of said strap together.
 13. The article of claim 12 wherein said body part of said strap member is equipped with edges not parallel to the length of said strap member, and wherein the backing of said sheet structure is against one side of said body part and a pad sheet is against the other side of said body part, both said backing and said pad sheet having mating surface areas free of contact with physical material of said body part of said strap member and being adhesively fixed to each other in said mating surface areas, whereby the body part of said strap member is mechanically locked between said backing and pad sheet.
 14. The article of claim 12 wherein said layeR of coarse grit particles are open coated with the grit occupying between approximately 10 and 90 percent of the face surface area of said abrasive sheet structure. 